FORMER Darlington striker Barry Conlon missed a golden opportunity to sink his former club on Saturday.

But the Bradford striker headed tamely wide in front of the 900 visiting Darlington fans behind the goal, when stealing in unmarked on 19 minutes.

Even though he was a threat throughout the game, later seeing a shot cleared off the line by central defender Alan White, neither Conlon nor his colleagues could find a way through the defence in a 0-0 draw.

Darlington have conceded just one goal on their travels this season, and Conlon, who scored almost 50 goals in his two spells at Darlington, said: “I wasn’t aware of their defensive record, but I can’t believe that we didn’t win. I desperately wanted that header to go in.

“I knew I would get some stick from the Darlington fans, but I had nothing to prove to them. I loved my time at Darlington, though I was not on form in part of my last season there.

“So I knew there would be some stick coming my way from the fans. I wouldn’t say I tried extra hard to score because in any game, a goal is a goal for me.

“Darlington were hard to break down because they are a very organised side, though I was surprised that they played for a draw. But we mustn’t feel sorry for ourselves because we did play well, and on another day would have won.”

Darlington were on the back foot from the moment Conlon headed wide. Keeper Andy Oakes saved well twice from another Darlington old-boy Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, and from Omar Daley, while White and Steve Foster were a tower of strength at the back for Darlington.

With right back Neil Austion solid on his return from injury, and the pace of Rob Purdie on the left of the defence limiting the threat of Daley, Darlington were able to claim a draw against a Bradford side who looked strong in all departments despite their slow start to the season.

Darlington manager Dave Penney insisted his side had not gone into the game in a negative frame of mind, even though they had to change their tactics after creative winger Julian Joachim suffred a knee injury in training towards the end of the week.

“It was like the Alamo at times but that was because we didn’t hold the ball well enough up front,” explained the manager.

“We needed a respite, but the ball kept coming back at us. We didn’t want a 0-0 draw; we wanted to win the game, but most of the teams in this division would have lost this game.”

Darlington are in third place in the League Two table, having lost only once this season, to a last-minute goal at MK Dons.

Once they get Joachim and striker Pawel Abbott back in action, they hope not to have to rely so heavily on their defence. But Saturday’s game is the first time they have been on the receiving end of such a battering, and to come through it unscathed shows the spirit and sheer dogged determination in the ranks.

While some of the fans were disappointed at the team’s limited attacking output, most of the biggest away following of the campaign were proud of their side’s efforts in a big, intimidating ground against a side that looks capable of joining the pace-setters.

“We have had a lot of games in the last few weeks and have picked up injuries, which haven’t helped,” said Penney.

He added. “But we are looking to play better than that.”

Darlington have a free week before the home game against Chesterfield on Saturday, to see whether any of the injured players can return, the most likely being Joachim.